Former for rail-bonds.



No. 766,207. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.i

W. H. WHERRY.

FORMER FORRAIL BONDS.

APPLIoATmH Hmm 0011.12, 190s.

No MODEL 2 emma-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES.' INVENTOH WMM J/ PATENTED AUG. 2, 19(14.

w. R. WHRRRY. FORMER RoR RAIL RoNns.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 12, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. VHERRY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOREST CITY ELEC"RIC COMPANY, OF OHIO.

FORMER FOR OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION RAIL-BONDS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,207, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed October 12, 1903.

To @ZL Awiz/m it may concern.-

Beit known thatI, WILLIAM H. VIIERRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Formers for Rail-Bonds, of which the following' is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contem- IO plated applying' that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to mechanism for forming rail-bonds, and particularly to such mechanism that is used for straightening and shap- I 5 ing the bonds after they have been manufactured and finished off.

Said invention consists ofmeans hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain meehanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting' but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a plan view of the mechanism embodying Iny invention, showing' a bond in position before straightening and in dotted lines in position after straightening. Fig. II is a central longitudinal vertical section of said mechanism; and F ig. III is a transverse section through the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. II, showing parts in elevation. Fig. IV

is a plan view of a straightened bond, and Fig. V a plan view of said bond after it has been shaped into the desired form.

Upon a table A is firmly fastened by casting or any other suitable means a strong lug a of substantially the same width as the space between the sides of the bond which is to be formed. In the table and in longitudinal alinement with said lug a is a groove or slide- Serial No. 176,644. (No model.)

way c of substantially the same width as that of the lug and running from approximately the center of the table to the front end thereof. Carried upon the end of the piston b of a cylinder B and located in said slideway (a is another lug, 2)', of substantially the same width as that of lug a and extending up out of the slideway a to a height substantially equal to that of lug a.

Laterally of the table A are two other cylinders, C and I), one on either side of the table, provided with pistons o and d, respectively, upon the outer ends of which are formed headed pieces c and d, respectively, the lower face of said pieces lying in the same horizontal plane as the top of the table A, so that they may slide freely upon the same. Longitudinally abutting' the pieces c/ and d and securelyv bolted thereto are two other pieces, c2 and (Z2, respectively, preferably rectangular in shape, and cast integral with these latter pieces or fastened to them by any other suitable means are projections c and (Z3, respectively, for indenting the bond, as willbe hereinafter more fullydescribed. Intermediate of the lugs u and Il two projecting lugs t2 (L2 are fastened to the table A, which act as Shapers for the bond when it is indented by the projections ofs and d, the Shapers and projections illustrated in Eig. I being designed to shape the bond into substantially the form shown in Fig. V. The pieces c and Z2 may be fastened to the pieces c and (l, respectively, at any desired points,`and any construction and size of pieces c', c2, (l, and (Z2, projections c3 and (Z3, and shapers a2 may be utilized, so that the strands c c' of the bond E may be indented into any shape and at any point desired and the bond shaped into the desired form, only one form and size of said pieces, projections, and Shapers being illustrated in the drawings.

Referring to the bond itself, it is shown as S5 comprising' the two heads or terminals c c and the two sets of connecting-strands e e'. These sets of connecting-strands are made of metal, preferably copper, and each set comprises several strands or conductors, so as to afford a large conductingsurface for the current. Said bonds are designed to furnish an electrical connection between two abutting rails, and in order that any possible play between the ends of the rails may be provided for, which may be needed by reason of the contraction and expansion of the rails or by reason of their becoming loosened in various ways,the strands or conductors are bent or indented, as shown in Fig. V.

In operating the above-described mechanism a terminal e of a bond E is laid over the lug a and the other terminal over the lug 5, as shown in full lines in Fig. I. Compressed air from any suitable source (not shown) is forced into the cylinder B through the connection B by means of a valve operated by a footlever F, and the piston Z) is driven forward, carrying with it the lug 7)', which straightens the strands e/ of the bond E, and thus carries the bond into the straightened position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. I) and gives the bond the shape illustrated in Fig. IV. The footlever F is then relieved, thus shutting off the compressed air from the cylinder, B, whereupon the piston 5, and with it the lug is forced back into the position shown in full lines. in Fig. I by the compressed air in the space between the piston and the front head of the cylinder, which pressure is maintained by small perforations b2 in the piston, whereby communication is afforded for the comparatively slow ingress of air into the front head of the cylinder from the rear head. After the strands of the bond have been thus straightened compressed air is forced into the cylinders C and D through the connections C and D by means of valves controlled by the handlever G, and against the bond-strands the projections c3 and Z3 are thus forced, forming the bond into the desired form, as illustrated in Fig. V, by means of the two projecting lugs a2 a2. The shaped bond is then removed, another inserted over the lugs c and and the process repeated, pistons c and Z having meanwhile been withdrawn by means of compressed air forced into the cylinders C and D through the connections C2 and D? by reversing the hand-lever G.

^ By the above-described means the bonds are straightened and formed into the desired shape very satisfactorily, and as a result of the variable stroke attainable by air-pressure the bonds are not required to be of a constant length, as they are when a machine of positive stroke is utilized for this purpose, but may vary in length as much as is desired.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent'of such stated means be ernployed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionl. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of lugs for holding the bond, means Jforl laterally indenting the bond, and lugs intermediate of the two sets of bond-strands for keeping portions of said two sets of strands separate, when the bond is indented.

2. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of lugs for holding the bond, oppositelydisposed projections for laterally indenting the bond intermediate of said holding-lugs, and lugs intermediate of said holding-lugs and located between the two sets of bondstrands for shaping the bond, when it is indented.

3. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of lugs for holding the bond, reciprocatory means for straightening the bond, oppositely-disposed projections for laterally indenting the bond, and lugs intermediate of said holding-lugs for shaping the bond, when it is indented.

4. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of a stationary lug and a movable lug for holding the bond, oppositely-disposed projections for laterally indenting the bond intermediate of said holding-lugs, and lugs intermediate of said holding-lugs for keeping portions of the two sets of bond-strands separate, when the bond is indented.

5. In aformer for rail-bonds, the combination of a'stationary lug and a movable lug for holding the bond, lugs intermediate of said holding-lugs for shaping the bond, and oppositely-disposed projections for laterally indenting the bond intermediate of said shaping-lugs.

6. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of a support, lugs for holding the bond, reciprocatory means for straightening the bond, one of said holding-lugs being stationary and located upon said support, and another'of said holding-lugs being movable and carried by said straightening means, and oppositely-disposed projections for laterally indenting the bond intermediate of said lugs.

7. In a former for rail-bonds, the combination of lugs for holding the bond, reciprocatory means for straightening the bond, oppositely-disposed projections for laterally indenting the bond, and reciprocatory means adapted to operate said projections.

` 8. In aformer for rail-bonds, the combination of lugs for holding the bond, means for straightening the bond, means providing communication between the rear and front of said straightening means for creating a back pres- IOO IIO

sure to withdraw said straightening means, means adapted to operate said indent'ing IO and means for laterally indenting' the bond. means.

9. In a former for rail-bonds, the eombina- Signed by me this 30th day of September,

tion of lugs for holding the hond, means for 1903.

5 straightening' the bond, perfor-ations connecting` the rear and front of said straightening means for creating a back pressure to With- Attest: draw said straightening means, means for lat- D. T. DAVIES, erally indenting the bond, and reciprocatory Gr. WV. SAYWELL.

VILLIAM H. VHERRY. 

